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26 February 2001
Bovis Lend Lease Starts Work on Gloscat's £15 Million College
The Bristol office of Bovis Lend Lease Limited has started work on a £15 million design and construct contract to build a new Arts and Technology College for Gloscat. The new college is being built on the site of the former Monkscroft School in Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham - Gloscat is the largest college in Gloucestershire with more than 30,000 students and 1,400 staff.
To mark the start of construction works, a special pile-driving ceremony was held on Friday 16 February 2001. Heather Knight and Andrew Hobbs, two Home Economics students from Gloscat, assisted in driving the first pile, which will form part of the foundations on which the new training kitchens will stand. When the new term starts in September 2002 Andrew and Heather will be among the first students to complete their course in the new Catering Faculty.
Gregg Smith, Principal of Gloscat, told invited guests: ”This ceremony marks the start of a very exciting time for Gloscat. The facilities will be amongst the best in the United Kingdom and students of all ages can look forward to enjoying a wide range of stimulating courses in outstanding surroundings.”
Chris Harding, Regional Director of Bovis Lend Lease, said: “We have a very demanding construction programme, which will rely heavily on integrated teamwork with all members of the council, client and project team. This project is the culmination of six months hard work converting the concept into a workable design, which we are confident will result in a modern environmentally friendly college of which Gloscat will be proud.”
A silver mounted miniature shovel was presented to Greg Smith, by Chris Harding. Framed artist impressions of the new college, signed by members of the project team, were also presented to Jeremy Williamson of Gloscat for Gloscat Corporation, Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester County Council by Chris Harding.
Bristol based architects, Atkins Walters Webster have designed the new 12,500 square metre complex which will be over 140 meters long, 70 meters wide and a mixture of two and three storeys. Public and circulation areas are concentrated in a glazed mall along the front of the building.
Funding for construction of the new college has been provided by Bryant Homes, which has acquired the 13-acre Park Campus site on which the college currently stands. Bryant Homes will take vacant possession of the old college site in September 2002 when the new facilities have been completed.
The building will comprise a concrete frame at ground and first floor levels, with a steel frame at second floor level. Internal finishes will make extensive use of fair-faced concrete and blockwork. The external façade of the building, which has been designed as a low maintenance facility, will feature riven-faced blockwork and a glass curtain wall to the mall and restaurant areas. The building will rely on its own thermal mass for environmental temperature control and will use natural ventilation in summer. It will reflect modern environmental innovation to minimise cost in use and energy consumption. The services and structure have been designed by the Bristol office of WSP Engineers.
Bovis Lend Lease will also fit-out the multi-functional facility, creating language laboratories, an arts and crafts wing, a sixth form college with science laboratories, a health and beauty centre, an educational facility for students with special needs, a nursery and gymnasium. A 720 square metre kitchen, featuring four multi-functional training areas with food preparation, cooking and washing-up areas, will be built adjacent to the restaurant. The restaurant will be made up of three separate areas, a Silver Service Section, Cyber Cafe and a more “traditional” zone, totalling between 70 and 80 covers.
Some external landscaping works will be undertaken and parking will be provided for 400 vehicles.
Completion of Gloscat's new site is scheduled for June 2002. Bovis Lend Lease will then assist the college in decanting from its current facilities. The new facility will open in September 2002.
Project team:
Client: Gloucestershire College of Art and Technology
Design and construction managers: Bovis Lend Lease Ltd, Bristol
Architect: Atkins Walters Webster, Bristol
Structural, mechanical and electrical engineers: WSP South West Ltd, Bristol
Cost consultants: Currie & Brown, Bristol
Solicitors : Bevan Ashford, Bristol
Press enquiries:
Geraldine Gillespie
Bovis Lend Lease Holdings Limited
+44 (0)20 7853 1142media
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